Customer Reviews

Velvet Song

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

All her life, Alyxandria Blackett's world has revolved around music. So it is while she is deeply immersed in her newest composition alone in the forest when she finds herself fighting off the advances of Lord Pagnell. Although she manages to escape, the rejection isn't taken well by her would-be attacker. That same night, she sees her father murdered and her home burned. And when Pagnell realizes that she has again escaped, he declares her a witch and puts up a big reward for her capture. With the help of their priest, she pretends to be a boy and takes up sanctuary in the camp of outlaws and works as a squire for Raine Montgomery.

A few weeks before, Raine was declared an outlaw by King Henry when he made the mistake of attacking his beloved sister Mary's captor while in command of the king's army. Accused as a traitor, he has hidden himself deep in the forest and became the leader of England's rejects. But while obedience from them came quick and easy, it wouldn't be quite the same with his new squire.

From day one, Alyx has shown contempt for Raine holding his noble birth against him. But as quick as she is to dislike him, she also quickly learns that Raine is nothing like Pagnell. Fearing that she will soon lose her heart to him, she tries to protect herself by hiding behind the pretence of hating him.

VELVET SONG is the third instalment in the Velvet Quartet. If you have read the first two books, you might be a little disappointed to see that Raine is not quite the humorous, easy-going man he once was. Sure, we get to see glimpses of the "old Raine" once in a while, but for most part, he is bitter and quick to believe the worst of Alyx. But having been through so much agony since the tragedy that befell his sister, I could appreciate why he's changed so much. What I couldn't understand though was how he could have stayed away from his own child for so long. As for Alyx, despite her insecurities and constant bellowing, she was much easier to like than the second book's heroine. And the constant bickering between the main characters does provide some humor and I liked the part when Alyx loses her voice and seeing Raine take advantage of the situation.

Overall, this was quite an enjoyable read and I liked the way the author set up the pace for the finale - Miles' story (VELVET ANGEL).

"Velvet Song" by Ms. Jude Deveraux, was the first historical romance I read, and it suitably hooked me. I liked Raine, when he was not being too proud, and I rather admired Alyx because she did what needed to be done. Raine, I have since learned, is a much better character in the other Montgomery novels than in his own.

Ms. Deveraux writes well and captures you into the world she describes. She is one of the top 5 romance writers out there, though truth be told, the Velvet series is her best work. Her characters are human not always so perfect, and she even varies them somewhat, which is unique amongst her profession. The one problem I had with this book was that Raine hits Alyx. I know it was "a different time" and that the author probably in no way condones domestic violence, but I was uncomfortable with that aspect of the novel. Fortunately, it only happens once, and if you can get over that feeling of discomfort, it does not detract overly much from the rest of the book. It is why this book is a four of five stars instead of a five of five.

Alyx was the more likeable of the two characters, and you can truly empathize with her. She is good hearted and she is one of my all time favorite heroines. Raine is less special, but at times he also became a very strong character.

Ms. Deveraux's characters are romantic, and you are cheering for them all of the way. You also get to meet other characters who have books about them, which I really like. I highly recommend this book as well as the rest of the Velvet series. Ms. Deveraux is a pleasure to read, and she combines everything important into an extremely good romance novel.

I love the Montgomery family story. Also, I really enjoy Deveraux's humorous and passionate writing style. Those are really the main reasons I gave this book 3 stars instead of the 2 that it really deserves. I have a hard time liking a story when I can't like the people involved. This main couple, Raine and Alyx, are both miserable and cruel people.

The Hero:
Raine Montgomery is a sexy, beautiful man... physically. However, he is a horrible husband and an even worse father. He spends all of his time blabbing about "honor", meanwhile he abandons his wife twice, and never bothers to make any attempt to meet his daughter.

The first time he abandons Alyx, she is a month from giving birth to their child. He dumps her at his brother's home and refuses any letters from her. He sulks for months until their daughter is 2 months old. Then, he still treats her coldly as she struggles for his forgiveness. Her crime... she had hurt his pride by trying to save him from stupidly getting himself killed.

The second time he abandons her is for several months. Again he dumps her at his brothers house and refuses any word from her. By the time their daughter is a year old, he still has never seen the little girl or asked about her well- being. He takes no interest in her until Alyx finally sends the child to live with him for a few months. Alyx's crime this time... she hurt his pride again by trying to help him.

I can't love a "hero" (stretching the word here) who is a deadbeat dad and neglectful husband. To Raine, pride comes before his family.

The Heroine:
Alyx has a tongue that cuts deeper than a sword. She insults Raine constantly. I can't count the number of times she calls him "stupid", "overgrown ox", and other charming pet names. Whenever Raine finally calms down from his sulking spells and attempts to make amends, Alyx can't shut up. She belittles him and presses every cruel button she can think up. Raine calmly warns her several times that she is "going to far", but she just can't shut up. The most pleasant part of the story is during a few days when Alyx loses her voice.

Alyx also makes one hugely stupid move that cuts Raine's heart to pieces:
Raine is hiding in the forest until he can get a pardon from the king. When Alyx must leave the forest, Raine is ready to go with her and protect her. She wants him to stay in the forest where he is safe. Rather than just trying to sneak away from the camp, she goes along with a plan to hurt Raine so badly that he'll let her leave without him. Throwing half her clothes off, she jumps on his best friend to make look like they are having an affair. It works. Raine is soul- destroyed. Cruelty with a capitol "C."


The main story:

Alyx has great talent for music. She can sing like and angel and compose her own songs. In her village, she is held up on a pedestal. However, when a neighboring lord (Lord Pagnell) hears her sing, he is infatuated with her. He tries to rape her. She fights back and manages to escape. In retaliation, Lord Pegnell murders her father and burns her home to the ground. He announces a reward for her capture, claiming that she is a witch who uses song to entrance and bedevil men.

The priest of Alyx's village plans an escape for Alyx. There is a band of outlaws living deep in the forest. Because these outlaws would likely ravish a helpless female, they disguise her as a boy. When she arrives at the camp, she is introduced to leader. Raine Montgomery is a lord who has been excommunicated by the king. When the "boy" is dropped into his care, he decides to make Alyx his squire.

After weeks of training the "boy", Raine discovers her true identity. The two fall in love, but clash with one another constantly. He blows his temper at the drop of a hat, she insults and belittles him at will. The people of the outlaw camp grow to hate Alyx. In fear that they may harm her, Raine decides to take Alyx away from the camp. She wants him to stay, fearing that the kings men will find him and kill him. Raine's best friend, Joss, comes up with the plan to make Raine hate Alyx.

Joss and Alyx wander the country, earning their meals with music. After a month of traveling, they discover she is caring Raine's child. They continue to wander for several months until they are found by the evil Lord Pegnell. He plans a trap that will murder Alyx and capture Raine at the same time. In a sham trial, Alyx is found guilty of witch craft and sentenced to burn at the stake. Knights are posted all around the area to capture Raine, for surely he will come and try to rescue her. Pegnell has made sure that Joss went free, knowing that Joss would go to Raine for help. Joss informs Raine that the affair between himself and Alyx was not real. In an act of love and bravery, Raine gathers his loyal forest outlaws for a rescue. As soon as she is safe, Raine takes her to a chapel and marries her.

From here the story goes down hill. This is the point where Raine will abandon Alyx twice and never bother with his child. Alyx will continue to insult Raine with words so stupid and cruel you'll want to slap her. There was just too much anger and meanness between these two. No marriage like this one could survive. Why would either of them want the each other?

The book is a quick read. I read it in a day. Deveraux is great at creating fluid and detailed settings and personalities. Her love scenes are charming and steamy. The Montgomery family as a whole is very likable. These facts kept me from tossing the book before I finished it.
As disappointed as I was with this story, I will continue to read the rest of the Montgomery series.

I was anticipating something original, being that the heroine masquerades as a boy around the hero. It started out well and then gradually became disappointing. Raine, the hero, is a jerk! He kept on getting mad at Alyx, the heroine, for things she did that meant well for him but "hurt his pride". Gosh, I am getting sick of stumbling upon stories with such chauvinistic pigs who are so consumed with their pride. He gets mad at her three times and abandons her, he wasn't even there when she gave birth and he practically ignored her as their child is almost a year old. God what kind of a husband and father is that? She always has to be the one to come to him, even though she wasn't particularly asking for forgiveness, the notion of going to him is enough to say that she's wanting his understandings. Maybe I'm sounding like a feminist myself, but this Raine just infuriates me. If it was me, I would've left him a long time ago. I wouldn't want to have a baby and deal with another BIG one.

Hated this book. Just hated it. I love most of Jude's books but this one was a huge disappointment. First, the romantic lead. He's a big, sulking bully. He spanks his wife. Seriously, he puts her over his knee and spanks her because he doesn't like the way she is acting! Give me a break. Second, the couple just fights fights fights. We're supposed to believe this couple who cannot have a civil conversation loves one another? No way.

Just skip this one.

I love this one, Alyx pretending to be a boy,with those violet eyes,and wild colored hair... Raine who would do,anything for her,who is always there for his brothers,sister and of course the sister in laws who adores him,i think Raine is the sweetest one from all four montgomery men... i read this book twice,i read this one first out of the Velvet Series so,i started to read them again but in order so,and i love it,love it,love it... I FELL IN LOVE WITH RAINE IN THIS BOOK... i hope i can meet a guy like that,as sweet as him... WHY CAN'T LOVE BE LIKE THAT,LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS?!!!

Velvet Song is the first book I've read in the Velvet series. I don't know why some other reviewers hate Alyx's character so much, she is the only person (aside from a few secondary characters) I liked in the story. She is strong, intelligent, giving and determined. Since when are those personalities bad for a female protagonist? I disagree with some that said all she does is yell, shout and treat Raine badly. Given her background and where she came from, it is understandable that she is protective of herself and be defensive all the times, after all it was injustice that landed her in the forest to begin with. Everything she did that Raine perceived as hurtful and insulting was not that treacherous at all. She knew she was right to have made those decisions because bullheaded Raine would not have listened to her and would be gotten himself killed at least 10 different times throughout the story.

The three stars are for Alyx, JD created a strong and sensible lead, not just some dumb beautiful face that would listen to every word men tell her. Now Raine on the other hand I have no idea why Alyx was even attracted to him in the first place. He's got an ego the size of Texas, hotheaded, stubborn and illiterate. The only thing I see going for him is his looks and body, in other words he is a total "tool". I've heard from other reviewers that his character is very different in the other books but he is irredeemable (IMO) in this book. To boot he is also a deadbeat dad and husband who leaves his wife (three times!) because his little ego got hurt. I rooted for Alyx to kick his ass out in the end and cannot see how she forgives him so easily. He has no rights to be mad at his wife when she constantly saves his ass from being killed? He lacks the qualities a real romantic hero should possess. I actually wants to give him half a star for being faithful to Alyx during those multiple sabbaticals from their marriage but then I thought about why he left in the first place so...nah. Oh yeah, add violent to the list of bad qualities, he spanked her for disobeying him! I would have handed him over to Roger Chatworth myself if I was Alyx.

I'll still read the other three books to see if the rest of the brothers are as bad as he is.

Velvet Song was definitely my least favorite of the Velvet series. Don't get me wrong it was still a good book, but it just wasn't as good in my mind as the others. I liked the plot, with Alyx dressing as a boy and Raine not realizing it and them falling in love, I liked seeing what happened to Jocelyn who played a big part in TVP (it was nice to see him move on from poor Constance and choose Rosamund instead she seems great) and I liked what Alyx became after she fell in love with Raine and their love changed her. But at the beginning I felt she was really annoying, with her constant bickering about the upper classes. Also the fact that Raine would get mad at her and leave, she'd come back, he'd get mad after awhile and leave again got old after about the 3rd time! I wasn't a big fan of the whole robin hood and the robbers story but maybe that's just me. One scene I will give Jude Deveraux a lot of credit on is finally showing us the reaction of one of the Montgomery brother's when they hear about Mary. Also I loved the burning scene and the wedding that follows, FABULOUS. I felt the scenes with Brian Chatworth were wonderful, he's even better though in Highland Velvet with Mary and Velvet Angel even though he's only in 1 scene there. I felt sorry for Roger with that but also it was his own fault (PS that scene is obviously based on Homer's Illiad with Hector, Patroclus, and Achilles). I did love how Alyx got Raine back in the end with Catherine, but I will say that at times she doesn't seem to be a very good mother - when her daughter's only a few months old, she leaves her to go stay in the forest with Catherine's father, and then when she's about a year old she sends Catherine to Raine completely on her own (OK maybe nto on her own, she had a nurse but still Alyx didn't go with her). Does she not want to be around her daughter that much? This book is good and the love that Raine and Alyx share is obvious and wonderful, but it definitely does not beat Velvet Promise, Highland Velvet, or Velvet Angel in the series and CERTAINLY does not top my very favorite Montgomery novel Wishes. Read it to help understand the series though.

Unlike some other veiwers who said they were dissapointed in the Raine character, I found him to be wonderful. I like that all four brothers were different from each other in the Velvet Series and Raine was definitly different. I appreciated the character more than the other brothers (except Miles for obvious reasons). This is definitly a good book. I read it in one evening. You must Read all four of the books to get a good appreciation. In order of what book was intended to be read first to last is 1) The Velvet Promise 2) Highland Velvet 3)Velvet Song 4)Velvet Angel.
Also keep in mind that these books did have more sexual content than most of Jude Deveraux's newer books. Obviously people read romance for the dirty stuff...I found it a bit unneccisary (I spelled that wrong Im sure).

So let me get this straight -- Raine is the sweetest, most caring, sensitive guy in Velvet Promise and Highland Velvet...but then the minute he meets and marries Alyx, he turns into some jealous psycho for half the book?

Riiiiiiiiiight.

Alyx is the only thing that saved this one.